Reviews of Rustic Castle with Breathtaking Countryside Views

Chateau de Chance

Customer Reviews

Overall:
We had a group of 9 friends who stayed for a week. We had a very pleasant stay in a quaint town.Enjoyed Most:
Very comfortable and relaxing. Enjoyed Least:
Lack of toilet paper and dishwasher tablets. Also lots of steps to top floor bedrooms!Surrounding Area:
Great walks and little grocer store was very handy and made good coffee.Tips or Restaurants:
Chateau de Pennautier.
Le Bergerie.
Directions:
Come in back way, don't go through town. Put restaurant Le Bergerie into GPS. Check In Out:
Check in, check out excellent. Had a problem with no gas on first day but Anne was very quick in coming over and changing gas bottles that were in a locked shed.

Judy, July

Overall:
The chateau met all of our expectations, roomy enough for all 11 members of our family. Quiet and calm after time down on the Riviera.Enjoyed Most:
The amount of space available and the location. (after we found it and got used to driving home).Enjoyed Least:
We did have a lingering odor in the third floor bathroom which got somewhat better after we began to use the showers. Water may have not drained out properly.Surrounding Area:
It is an area of very few tourists even though Carcassonne is just down the way. It was always quiet and had a very local feel to it.Nearby Events or Locales:
It is actually located in the town of Aragon which was very small.Tips or Restaurants:
I left a couple of older beach towels there which I brought to offset the use of the bathroom towels.
Must try the French Cassoulet. Family had this dish in Carcassonne and Castelnaudry. Excellent Directions:
Keep looking for the signs to the restaurant La Bergerie.Check In Out:
Check in and out was great. Anne went out of her way to come on Friday evening to return a cashiers check I had left with her as security deposit.

Susan, July

Overall:
The 10 of us had a wonderful experience at the Chateau.
Directions were very good especially that the restaurant was used as the main way to find the house.
Nick and Sue, the chef and his wife, were GLORIOUS. We would recommend them highly.Enjoyed Most:
The views, the neighbors, the ease of getting in and out. The whole village was so welcoming. The little grocer had all things ready for us to pick up on the day we arrived.
Anne was waiting for us and showed us around the property. gt Enjoyed Least:
We would like to recommend that there would be a larger coffee pot, especially for 10 Americans. Also, a how-to for the washer and dryer would be helpful. Surrounding Area:
We were able to make day trips to Carcassonne, Lourdes, Collioure.Nearby Events or Locales:
We enjoyed visiting the church and the memorial to the WWI veterans of France.Tips or Restaurants:
Bring facecloths.Directions:
Follow the signs to the 1 star restaurant. We had a GPS and it was trying to send us to the lower part of town so just follow the signs and you will be right down the street.Check In Out:
Everything went perfectly.

Marilyn, October

Overall:
As soon as we walked into the cool atmosphere of the 400 year old castle, we were taken back in time, leaving any cares behind and relaxing. It served as a great base for exploring the wide area around it from Albi to the Mediterranean. And it welcomed us back every evening to its charming atmosphere.Enjoyed Most:
Its views from both the back garden and upper front balcony.Enjoyed Least:
The bathtubs could have had more integrated shower curtains for those wanting a shower.Surrounding Area:
The rolling hills of vineyards. There is a lovely network of biking routes that can be explored if you can rent a bike.Nearby Events or Locales:
Aragon (where the chateau was located) is just down the hill.Tips or Restaurants:
The big supermarket (LeCleric) is closed on Sunday so get the necessary provisions on Saturday before 8 PM. There is a small epicure in town next to the public parking lot - since you arrive to the chateau from the other direction by car you might miss it if you don't explore the town. It also has many local wines. Bring salt and pepper.Directions:
The directions were fine.Check In Out:
The caretaker couldn't be there when we arrived but hid a key which was very convenient. It would be nice to get a more detailed "briefing" of the area, like the location of the store at the bottom of the hill in Aragon.

Tim, June

Overall:
Delightful. Great to come "home" after a day of sightseeing.Enjoyed Most:
We each had our own space, but there were great gathering points in the living room and outdoors. We had good WiFi down stairs.Enjoyed Least:
Dark stairwells. The main lights in the living room never seemed to work.Surrounding Area:
Once we found out about the walking trails in Aragon we really enjoyed them. Further afield we enjoyed Carcasonne, driving up into the Pic Nor, down to the coast and Collieure, into the chateau de Peyrepertuse area.Nearby Events or Locales:
There was a small store in the small village of Aragon. Also, a produce truck came to town late in the week.Tips or Restaurants:
We quite happily cooked all our meals at home. The kitchen was well stocked with utensils and dishes. Directions:
Directions were good, though an English speaking person might write up the set for English visitors, some of the French translated phrases needed a little deciphering. Check In Out:
There needs to be a manual for the house with best-use settings for the appliances, such as washers. And it would have been helpful to know about the surrounding wildlife/recreation areas and the village store location.

Anne, June

Overall:
Great.Enjoyed Most:
The whole atmosphere.Enjoyed Least:
The pool was cold.Surrounding Area:
The countryside, the many places to walk, the old village where we were staying.Tips or Restaurants:
La Bergerie was extremely good.Directions:
Do not use GPS for arrival because it brings you through the village and you get stuck at one point; follow provided directions from RentVillas instead.

Sylvie, July

Overall:
We had the best time at the chateau. We were in Aragon for 4 weeks and felt like part of the village community. The real treat was the welcome from the locals and although there were language issues, that didnt stop them from chatting away to us daily. We had a different group of friends each week over the 4 weeks and that worked very well.Enjoyed Most:
The property was is a living village. It was beautiful and peaceful and provided privacy for a large group with lots of areas for relaxation and quiet time. The kitchen was amazing with the best stove and equipment--although a second fridge would not have gone astray.
We loved to have Chef Nick come in each Sunday for our special dinner that we called 'Sunday Funday'.
We also loved going to Sebastian's for croissants each morning and a late afternoon ale. Sebastian has the local store/bar/epicure/community centre. He is priceless and we will miss him.Enjoyed Least:
The bathrooms were a battle for people that were used to a shower. We decided early to opt for a bath and just use the hand shower in the bath but for many there were floods and wet floors when they tried to shower. Also the baths in many rooms will need eventually to be resurfaced but the main bedroom bathroom was excellent. Surrounding Area:
Le Bergerie is a Michelin restaurant about 70 m from the front door. We had a dinner there each week and the food and service were excellent. The best you will find anywhere. Truly amazing. We also enjoyed Carcassonne and visiting the surrounding towns. Must dos include Lastours, Limoux, Minerve and markets at Mirepoix. We would also recommend hiring cycles at the railway and doing the trip to Trebes along the Canal du Midi. Nearby Events or Locales:
We lived in Aragon. Next town was Pennautier which had a few things Aragon didnt but Carcassone was only 20-minutes drive away and that's were we did our market shopping each Saturday. A wonderful experience in itself and not to be missed. Coffee at Cafe Felix is a must--the place in Carcassonne to be seen that we were reliably informed! Tips or Restaurants:
Bring your own bottle opener! We thoroughly enjoyed the local wine tours with Wendy Gedney. The trips to Limoux for the champagne and the trip to Minerve were both terrific. Lots of restaurants. Our favourite of course was Le Bergerie at Aragon One of our highlights however was to travel to Spain for lunch - Cadeques on one occasion and then Roses. Not for the feint hearted but us Aussies think nothing of traveling a couple of hours for lunch. Directions:
Don't use the GPS. It will take you through the town of Aragon which is impossible for most cars. We advised our guests to just follow the signs to Le Bergerie and sent them a photo of the sign. That worked. Early in the piece we had few very lost souls!This is despite very good instructions provided.Check In Out:
Nick and Suzette were wonderful. On a couple of occasions we had a few problems and they were dealt with quickly and efficiently.

Patricia, June

Overall:
Overall our group of twelve had a wonderful time at Chateau de Chance. Our part of the group flew into Toulouse airport via Heathrow and the drive to Aragon was extremely manageable less than an hour. My brothers and their families flew in to Carcassonne Airport which is about a 10 minute drive. The chateau has a charm about it and it does feel like a very unique place to stay. The bedrooms were generally spacious, with every one being a little different. The property offers a nice mix of old world feel with some nice improvements. Enjoyed Most:
The first view of Aragon as you come round a corner is special but what I liked most is that this is a very unique property, different from most of the properties that we considered - a medieval chateau, set in a row of houses. You feel like you are entering a secret world when you enter the front door. Our experience with Chef Peter at the chateau was wonderful and visitors to the chateau should consider using his services if possible - not cheap but well worth it and comparable to going out on the town.Enjoyed Least:
I must agree with some of the other comments about the furniture. I do think that the living room would benefit from an upgrade - the furniture is not particularly comfortable and there doesn't seem to be a sense of 'central design' to the large room. Much of the outdoor furniture is suffering from wear and tear, particularly the chaise lounges and the chairs. Somehow the pool looked bigger in the photos but it is a great addition to the property, especially on the hottest of summer days. The kids loved it despite our unseasonably cool weather. It provides a nice centerpiece for the garden. Perhaps a few more pool towels would be nice. Editor's Note: The owners have had the outside furniture repaired. August 2010Surrounding Area:
Aragon is a quaint, hilly, little, historic village that is well worth a walk abound. As mentioned, it has very few amenities, but offers a lot of photo opportunities. The major attraction of the surrounding area is Carcassonne's walled medieval city La Cite. It is about 8 miles from Aragon if you drive the most direct route from Aragon, following the signs to Carcassonne and then for La Cite. However for a more breath-taking first impression of this walled medieval city, I would suggest that you enter Carcassonne from its southern approach, the motorway side.Nearby Events or Locales:
Not really. Aragon had some very basic amenities as described in the information package so that was no surprise. The nearest functional small town was Pennautier about 4-5 miles away - definitely not walkable. There are some village amenities - bar, boulangerie, tabac, fine restaurant and wine tasting at the chateau. On the outskirts of Pennautier, on the route to Carcassonne, there were all of the mall-type amenities that you would expect to find in a large town - supermarkets, gas stations, fast food, etc.Tips or Restaurants:
La Bergerie has received many well-deserved recommendations. The couple that own the place have made it a true foodie destination. They have some extraordinary items on the menu and it remains reasonably priced. We were pleasantly surprised by the quality of our lunch at the Chateau Pennautier. Their menu offered a good selection of reasonably prices dishes and a good wine selection, much of it local. Their wait staff very knowledgeable, could explain menu items in mouth watering detail and all in very good English sad to admit, a necessity for our group. The facility also has a wine tasting room and shop. Their wines are very good and very affordable.Directions:
Instructions were generally good. Some of us got a little turned around but realised it by the next roundabout - obviously directions are harder to follow in the dark! The proximity to La Bergerie is definitely the main thing to emphasise. I didn't try GPS coordinates but I did have a Google Map Satellite photo that gave a good sense of where the property was.

keith, July

Overall:
Excellent chateau - very large and good for family get togethers or groups.Enjoyed Most:
Location on top of village.Enjoyed Least:
Bathrooms can be updated. Hand held showers result in leakage around tub.Surrounding Area:
The view was excellent.Nearby Events or Locales:
Located in village of Aragon.Tips or Restaurants:
Chateau very well equipped. Bring a dial-up modem for Internet access. GPS always a good idea when driving in France as street names small and often hard to find.Directions:
Easy to get lost immediately leaving Carcassonne airport.Check In Out:
Lesa was excellent.

Berton, July

Overall:
We enjoyed the week. The house is full of charm. We used it as a base for exploring the area. Enjoyed Most:
The charm, outside area and the quiet surroundings. Enjoyed Least:
Other places to see were quite a distance by car. The ants in the kitchen were bothersome. We had difficulty getting Internet access. Editor's Note: A storm interferred with the Internet and phone line and is now fixed. Surrounding Area:
It was beautiful and there was a lot to see.Tips or Restaurants:
Come to enjoy relaxing at the house. Be prepared to drive to other towns, etc. Check In Out:
The contact person was very nice and offered information. However, we had difficulty contacting her during the week. The ability to use email at the house is limited. Also telephone service seemed to be inconsistent. Editor's Note: See note above. The keyholder is adding another phone contact line.

Betsy, May

Overall:
Very enjoyable.Enjoyed Most:
Wonderful fireplace! Make it big to avoid it smoking - it's a truly medieval indulgence.
Enjoyed Least:
Furniture could be more comfortable.Surrounding Area:
Beautiful views and countryside.Tips or Restaurants:
'La Bergerie' in the village is truly excellent. Be sure to go to the small provisions store at the bottom of the village & buy a few bottles of the Chateau d'Aragon red - it's surprisingly good - lots of lavender and earth - (& at about 9 Euros a spectacular value). The best cassoulet we found was in La Cote de Mailles in Carcassonne Cite, a small, less (relatively) touristy family place. Get the cassoulet with the quail on top (!). Treat yourself with a provisions trip to La Ferme in Carcassonne by Les Halles.

Alan, January

Overall:
We loved our experience at the chateau. Our party was able to relax and decompress from our hectic lives. Enjoyed Most:
The views. Absolutely stunning!
We also arranged for a catered dinner one evening - don't miss this opportunity! It is an excellent value. The food and wine was absolutely excellent and in great abundance. Enjoyed Least:
This is a minor issue, however the outdoor furniture was not as comfortable as we would have liked. Surrounding Area:
The wineries, restaurants and other historic landmarks. Tips or Restaurants:
Yes, bring beach towels as there is a pool. I took the advice to ship certain items in advance, however I would not recommend doing so because there isn't anyone to sign for a package. I thought our belongings were gone forever, but we have a very fortunate stroke of luck and were able to retrieve them. In addition, the dial-up didn't work on our computers which wasn't a tragedy, but might be very important for those who need to be connected.
La Bergerie is an excellent restaurant in Aragon. It was one of the best meals I have ever had. Directions:
We took a train to Carcassonne and then a taxi to the chateau. No issues with directions.Check In Out:
Check in is late in the day - 4pm.

Sandy , September

Overall:
The chateau is a spectacular blend of history, quiet location, and amazing views and weather. Although a historic structure the interior has been nicely updated to a modern standard. The chateau accommodated the needs of our large group.Enjoyed Most:
The location. It is close to many attractions, yet at the same time, feels exclusive and hidden. The location in a small village added to the charm.Enjoyed Least:
Some of the windows could use screens to keep the bugs out, but otherwise no complaints.Surrounding Area:
There is so much to do in the Midi-Pyrenees that it would take many trips to take it all in. We visited attractions close to the chateau such as the medieval city of Carcassonne as well as farther places such as Albi and Cordes sur Ciel. Driving in southwest France is remarkably easy. A visit to Montagne Noir and the regional nature park which is just 15-20 minutes drive from the Chateau is a must.Nearby Events or Locales:
The Chateau was set in the village. The neighbors are friendly. On our last day in the chateau some of them came out to say goodbye and wish us a good journey home.Tips or Restaurants:
Although not absolutely necessary, I think some level of fluency in French is needed for a great experience here due to the small size of the village and rural surroundings. The chateau is very well stocked--seems as if the owners have anticipated every need.Directions:
Using the map provided by Rentvillas and the directions we easily found the property.

Elias, June

Overall:
All four couples enjoyed the property tremendously.Enjoyed Most:
The home was peaceful and a great place to relax after a long day of touring.Enjoyed Least:
Showers - but that's a French thing!Surrounding Area:
Wineries, old castles, markets, pretty country, proximity to coast.Nearby Events or Locales:
We were in the village - but it had no facilities. Pennautier was about 10 kms away, also small, but had bakery and grocery.Tips or Restaurants:
Go to La Bergerie, right down the street. We had a great dinner there.